Twenty poster MHPP- MM 02062026 (3)_edited.jpg

Twenty – Medway’s Black Heritage A Medway Heritage Place project supported by Medway Council and made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund. 1. About the Project Twenty – Medway’s Black Heritage is a community-led oral history and cultural heritage project documenting the lived experiences, memories and creative legacy of Black residents in Medway. We are inviting 20 Black-identifying Medway residents to take part in a relaxed creative session involving: Audio recording of your story, memories or reflections A guided question‑and‑answer conversation A professional portrait photograph Your contribution will help build a new digital archive celebrating Medway’s Black community. 2. Who Is Running the Project? This project is delivered by Michi Masumi, in partnership with: Medway Heritage Place Medway Council The National Lottery Heritage Fund Medway Archives & Medway Libraries Your contribution will become part of the Benjamin Zephaniah Archive & Library (Online). 3. What Will I Be Asked to Do? If you choose to take part, you will: Attend a relaxed, creative session (approx. 45–60 minutes) Share your story through a guided conversation Have a professional portrait photograph taken Review and confirm your consent choices There is no preparation required. You can share as much or as little as you feel comfortable with. 4. How Will My Story Be Used? Your audio recording, words and portrait may be used for: Heritage & Educational Use Permanent archiving in the Benjamin Zephaniah Archive & Library Educational presentations with Medway Archives & Medway Libraries Community heritage events Creative Outputs Digital artwork Short video reels or animations Poetry or spoken‑word pieces Music or sound‑based compositions AI‑assisted creative interpretations Online exhibitions Publicity & Promotion Marketing materials Press releases Social media posts Printed materials (posters, leaflets, exhibitions) Project websites and partner websites (including Medway Council and Medway Heritage Place) All creative use will be respectful, culturally sensitive and aligned with the purpose of celebrating Medway’s Black heritage. 5. Do I Have to Take Part? No. Participation is completely voluntary. You can: Choose not to take part Skip any questions you don’t want to answer Ask to pause or stop at any time Withdraw your consent for public use before publication Your comfort and agency come first. 6. Can I Withdraw Later? You may withdraw: Your participation at any time before or during the session Your consent for public use of your story or portrait up until the point of publication Once your material is archived in the Benjamin Zephaniah Archive & Library, it becomes part of the permanent historical record, but public-facing use can still be withdrawn before publication. 7. Are There Any Risks or Benefits? Risks There are no expected risks. Some people may find sharing personal memories emotional; you can pause or stop at any time. Benefits Your story becomes part of Medway’s heritage You receive a professional archival portrait You contribute to a community-led archive You help shape how Black history is represented locally 8. Who Can I Contact? For questions, accessibility needs or support: 📧 msmichimasumi@gmail.com 🌐 michimasumi.co.uk 🔐 GDPR & DATA PROTECTION STATEMENT This project follows UK GDPR, Data Protection Act 2018, and heritage‑sector ethical standards. 1. What Personal Data Will Be Collected? We may collect: Your name Contact details (email/phone) Audio recording of your story Portrait photograph Interview responses Consent choices Accessibility needs (optional) We do not collect unnecessary personal data. 2. How Will My Data Be Stored? Your data will be stored securely using encrypted, password‑protected systems. Only the project lead and authorised heritage partners will have access. 3. How Will My Data Be Used? Your data may be used for: Archiving Educational presentations Creative outputs Marketing and publicity (if you consent) Project reporting to funders Your data will never be sold, shared with third parties for commercial use, or used outside the purposes of this project. 4. How Long Will My Data Be Kept? Your archival materials (audio, portrait, story) will be kept permanently as part of the Benjamin Zephaniah Archive & Library. Your contact details will be deleted within 12 months of project completion unless you request otherwise. Consent forms will be stored for audit and safeguarding purposes. 5. Your Rights Under UK GDPR You have the right to: Access your data Request corrections Withdraw consent (before publication) Request deletion of non‑archival personal data Ask questions about how your data is used To exercise these rights, contact: 📧 msmichimasumi@gmail.com 6. Legal Basis for Processing The project processes your data under: Consent (you choose what you agree to) Public interest / archiving in the public interest (heritage preservation) Legitimate interest (project delivery and reporting to funders)

Welcome

Thank you for registering your interest.

in Twenty – Medway's Black Heritage (2026).

This community-led heritage project celebrates the lived experiences, memories, and contributions of Black people living in Medway.

Through oral history and archival portraiture

Through photography and creative practice, we are building a lasting cultural heritage collection that will help preserve these stories for future generations.

Before registering, we invite you to download our Participant Information Pack, which explains the project, your rights, how your story will be cared for, and how your contribution may be used.

If you have any questions or accessibility requirements, please don't hesitate to get in touch.

I look forward to welcoming you.

As a thank you.

Every participant who completes the project will be invited to our end-of-project celebration and exhibition.

As a token of our appreciation, participants will receive:

An unframed A2 archival portrait.
A personalised Certificate of Appreciation.
An invitation to celebrate the completion of the project with fellow participants, community partners and supporters.

Meet Your Oral Historian

Hi, I'm Michi Masumi. I'm an integrated cultural and sociological anthropologist, oral historian, archival portrait photographer and founder of The Black Art Hub CIC.

Through my doctoral research at Canterbury Christ Church University, I work with communities to document and preserve lived experiences using oral history, photography, creative practice and ethical AI-assisted workflows.

My aim is to create a relaxed, respectful environment where people feel comfortable sharing their stories in their own words.

Examples of My Work:

Service Personnel: Annette & Elaine 01/50

Location: Chatham, Kent—2025

(Part of a photo series)

Service Women_ Annette & Elaine_edited.jpg

Black Women from Medway & London:

Location: 2024 - 2025

(Part of a photo series)

Previous Heritage Project

William Cuffay: A Black British Heritage Sonic Poem – Parlour

As part of my wider doctoral research into Black British cultural heritage, I create creative heritage outputs that combine oral history, poetry, archival photography, visual art, and ethical AI-assisted creative practice to explore, preserve, and share lived experiences.

William Cuffay: Parlour is an original sonic poem (art song) inspired by the life and legacy of William Cuffay, one of Britain's most significant yet often overlooked Black political activists and Chartist leaders.

For this project, I:

Researched and wrote the original poem.
Developed the sonic poem (art song) structure and narrative.
Created the musical composition, vocal arrangements, and production direction.
Directed the development of the vocal performances.
Created the accompanying digital artwork.
Developed the accompanying animation as part of the final production.
Produced accessible subtitles and captions to improve access for Deaf, hard of hearing, and wider audiences.
Created additional community learning resources, including narrated voice-overs and supporting educational materials.

This webpage features an early version of the project. The completed work includes fully animated visuals, accessibility subtitles, and additional learning resources designed to support community engagement, education, and discussions around Black British history and cultural heritage.

All creative outputs were developed through a human-led, AI-assisted workflow, with historical research, cultural interpretation, artistic direction, and editorial decisions remaining under my authorship and creative control.

Please click the video below to see the original first draft of 'Parlour' (William Cuffay historical monologue sonic poem)

For questions, accessibility needs, or support:

📧 msmichimasumi@gmail.com

🔐 GDPR & DATA PROTECTION STATEMENT

This project follows UK GDPR, the Data Protection Act 2018, and heritage‑sector ethical standards

🛡️ OWNERSHIP & RIGHTS DISCLAIMER Twenty – Medway’s Black Heritage A Medway Heritage Place project supported by Medway Council and made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund. 1. Who owns the original recordings and materials? All oral history recordings, audio files, interview transcripts, portrait photographs, and creative outputs produced as part of this project are owned by: Michi Masumi (Artist, Oral Historian, Archivist & Creative Practitioner) acting as the creator and custodian of the Twenty – Medway’s Black Heritage archive. This includes: Audio recordings Oral history interviews Portrait photographs Digital artwork AI‑assisted artwork Poetry and spoken‑word pieces Sonic poetry or sound compositions Short video reels or animations Edited or curated versions of your story These materials form part of the Benjamin Zephaniah Archive & Library (Online) and are preserved as part of Medway’s cultural heritage. 2. What rights do participants keep? Participants retain the rights to their own words, life story and personal experiences. This means: Your story is still your story You can share it anywhere you like You can use your own words in your own projects You do not give up ownership of your identity or lived experience You are granting permission (through consent) for your story, voice and image to be: recorded archived interpreted creatively shared publicly used in heritage, educational and artistic contexts But you do not lose ownership of your personal narrative. 3. What rights does the artist hold? As the creator of the recordings and artworks, Michi Masumi holds: Copyright over: the audio recordings the interview structure the portrait photographs the edited audio the creative interpretations (digital art, poetry, music, reels, etc.) the final curated archive materials This is standard practice in oral history, photography, and creative arts. Moral Rights Michi retains the right to be credited as: Artist Oral Historian Photographer Poet Sonic Artist AI‑based Creative Practitioner Archivist 4. What rights does the project have? The project (Twenty – Medway’s Black Heritage) has the right to: store the materials permanently use them for heritage, educational and creative purposes share them online and in public spaces include them in exhibitions, presentations and publications use them in marketing, press releases and promotional materials All uses will be respectful, culturally sensitive and aligned with the purpose of celebrating Medway’s Black heritage. 5. What rights do funders and partners have? Medway Council, Medway Heritage Place and The National Lottery Heritage Fund do not own your story or the creative outputs. They only have permission to: share the project publicly promote the project include the project in reports, case studies or heritage documentation They do not own the recordings or artworks. 6. Can participants withdraw? Yes — participants may withdraw: from the project at any time consent for public use before publication Once archived, the material becomes part of the permanent historical record, but public-facing use can still be withdrawn before release.